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CLASS  OF  1886;  PHD.  THE  JOHNS  HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 

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NARRATIVE 


LUNSFORD  LANE, 


FORMERLY  OF 


RALEIGH,  N.  C. 


Embracing  an  account  of  his  early  life,  the  redemption  by  purchase 

of  himself  and  family  from  slavery, 

And  his  banishment  from  the  place  of  his  birth  for  the  crime 

of  wearing  a  colored  skin. 


PUBLISHED    BY    HIMSELF. 


SECOND    EDITION. 


\ 

BOSTON  : 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  PUBLISHER 

J.    G.    TORREY,  PRINTER. 


1842. 


vc" 


NOTE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  first  edition  of  this  work 
has  been  sold,  renders  it  necessary  to  put  another  edition 
to  press,  without  any  enlargement  or  material  alteration. — 
Whether  any  change  in  its  form  will  hereafter  be  made, 
will  depend  upon  circumstances. 

Thanks  to  those  friends  who  have  aided  me  in  the  sale 
of  the  first  edition, — to  those  editors  who  have  so  favora- 
bly noticed  the  work, — and  to  those  who  have  so  freely 
purchased.  May  I  not  justly  hope  for  a  continuance  of  the 
6ame  kind  regards.  L.  L. 

Boston,  August  24,  1842. 

i 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1842,  by 

Lunsford  Lane, 
In  the  clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


TO  THE  READER. 


I  have  been  solicited  by  very  many  friends,  to  give 
my  narrative  to  the  public.  Whatever  my  own  judgment 
might  be,  I  should  yield  to  theirs.  In  compliance,  there- 
fore, with  this  general  request,  and  in  the  hope  that  these 
pages  may  produce  an  impression  favorable  to  my  coun- 
trymen in  bondage  ;  also  that  I  may  realize  something 
from  the  sale  of  my  work  towards  the  support  of  a  numer- 
ous family,  I  have  committed  this  publication  to  press. 
It  might  have  been  made  two  or  three,  or  even  six  times 
larger,  without  diminishing  from  the  interest  of  any  one  of 
its  pages — indeed  with  an  increased  interest — but  the  want 
of  the  pecuniary  means,  and  other  considerations,  have  in- 
duced me  to  present  it  as  here  seen. 

I  have  not,  in  this  publication  attempted  or  desired  to 
argue  anything.  It  is  only  a  simple  narration  of  such  facts 
connected  with  my  own  case,  as  I  thought  would  be  most 
interesting  and  instructive  to  readers  generally.  The  facts 
will,  1  think,  cast  some  light  upon  the  policy  of  a  slavehold- 
ing  community,  and  the  effect  on  the  minds  of  the  more 
enlightened,  the  more  humane,  and  the  Christian  portion 
of  the  southern  people,  of  holding  and  trading  in  the  bodies 
and  souls  of  men.  , 

I  have  said  in  the  following  pages,  that  my  condition  as 
a  slave  was  comparatively  a  happy,  indeed  a  highly  favor- 
ed one  ;  and  to  this  circumstance  is  it  owing  that  I  have 
been  able  to  come  up  from  bondage  and  relate  the  story  to 
.the  public  ;  and  that  my  wife,  my  mother,  and  my  seven 
^children,  are  here  with  me  this  day.  If  for  any  thing  this 
Qside  the  invisible  world.  I  bless  heaven,  it  is  that  I  was  not 


IV  TO     THE     READER.. 

born  a  plantation  slave,  nor  even  a  house  servant  under 
what  is  termed  a  hard  and  cruel  master. 

It  has  not  been  any  part  of  my  object  to  describe  slave- 
ry generally,  and  in  the  narration  of  my  own  case  I  have 
dwelt  as  little  as  possible  upon  the  dark  side — have  spoken 
mostly  of  the  bright.  In  whatever  I  have  been  obliged  to 
say  unfavorable  to  others,  I  have  endeavored  not  to  over- 
state, but  have  chosen  rather  to  come  short  of  giving  the 
full  picture — omitting  much  which  it  did  not  seem  import- 
ant to  my  object  to  relate.  And  yet  I  would  not  venture 
to  say  that  this  publication  does  not  contain  a  single  period 
which  might  be  twisted  to  convey  an  idea  more  than 
should  be  expressed. 

Those  of  whom  I  have  had  occasion  to  speak,  are  re- 
garded, where  they  are  known,  as  among  the  most  kind 
men  to  their  slaves.  Mr.  Smith,  some  of  whose  conduct 
will  doubtless  seem  strange  to  the  reader,  is  sometimes 
taunted  with  being  an  abolitionist,  inconsequence  of  the 
interest  he  manifests  towards  the  colored  people.  If  to 
any  his  character  appear  like  a  riddle,  they  should  remem- 
ber that  men,  like  other  things,  have  "two  sides,"  and 
often  a  top  and  a  bottom  in  addition. 

While  in  the  South  I  succeeded  by  stealth  in  learning  to 
read  and  write  a  little,  and  since  I  have  been  in  the  North 
I  have  learned  more.  But  1  need  not  say  that  I  have  been 
obliged  to  employ  the  services  of  a  friend,  in  bringing  this 
Narrative  into  shape  for  the  public  eye.  And  it  should 
perhaps  be  said  on  the  part  of  the  writer,  that  it  has  been 
hastily  compiled,  with  little  regard  to  style,  only  to  express 
the  ideas  accurately  and  in  a  manner  to  be  understood. 

LUNSFORD  LANE. 

Boston,' July  4,  1842. 


NARRATIVE 


The  small  city  of  Raleigh,  North  Caroli- 
na, it  is  known,  is  the  capital  of  the  State, 
situated  in  the  interior,  and  containing  about 
thirty-six  hundred  inhabitants.  Here  lived 
Mr.  Sherwood  Haywood,  a  man  of  con- 
siderable respectability,  a  planter,  and  the 
cashier  of  a  bank.  He  owned  three  plan- 
tations, at  the  distances  respectively  of 
seventy-five,  thirty,  and  three  miles  from 
his  residence  in  Raleigh.  He  owned  in  all 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  slaves,  among 
the  rest  my  mother,  who  was  a  house  ser- 
vant to  her  master,  and  of  course  a  resident 
in  the  city.  My  father  was  a  slave  to  a 
near  neighbor.  The  apartment  where  I 
was  born  and  where  I  spent  my  childhood 
and  youth  was  called  "  the  kitchen,"  situated 
some  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  from  the  "  great 
house."  Here  the  house  servants  lodged  and 
lived,  and  here  the  meals  were  prepared  for 
tfee  people  in  the  mansion.  The  "  field 
hands,"  of  course,  reside  upon  the  planta- 
tion. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1803,  I  was  ushered 

into  the  world ;  but  I   did  not  begin  to  see 

the  rising  of  its  dark  clouds,  nor  fancy  how 

they  might  be  broken  and  dispersed,  until 

2 


b  NARRATIVE. 

some  time  afterwards.  My  infancy  was 
spent  upon  the  floor,  in  a  rough  cradle,  or 
sometimes  in  my  mother's  arms.  My  early 
boyhood  in  playing  with  the  other  boys  and 
girls,  colored  and  white,  in  the  yard,  and 
occasionally  doing  such  little  matters  of 
labor  as  one  of  so  young  years  could.  I 
knew  no  difference  between  myself  and  the 
white  children  ;  nor  did  they  seem  to  know 
any  in  turn.  Sometimes  my  master  would 
come  out  and  give  a  biscuit  to  me,  and 
another  to  one  of  his  own  white  boys ;  but 
I  did  not  perceive  the  difference  between  us. 
I  had  no  brothers  or  sisters,  but  there  were 
other  colored  families  living  in  the  same 
kitchen,  and  the  children  playing  in  the 
same  yard,  with  me  and  my  mother. 

When  I  was  ten  or  eleven  years  old,  my 
master  set  me  regularly  to  cutting  wood,  in 
the  yard  in  t^e  winter,  and  working  in  the 
garden  in  the  summer.  And  when  I  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  gave  me  the  care  of 
the  pleasure  horses,  and  made  me  his  car- 
riage driver;  but  this  did  not  exempt  me 
from  other  labor,  especially  in  the  summer. 
Early  in  the  morning  I  used  to  take  his  three 
horses  to  the  plantation,  and  turn  them  into 
the  pasture  to  graze,  and  myself  into  the 
cotton  or  cornfield,  with  a  hoe  in  my  hand, 
to  work  through  the  day  ;  and  after  sunset 
I  would  take  these  horses  back  to  the  city,  a 
distance  of  three  miles,  feed  them,  and  then 
attend  to  any  other  business   my  master  or 


MY  YOUTH.  ( 

any  of  his  family  had  for  me  to  do,  until 
bed  time,  when  with  my  blanket  in  my 
hand,  I  would  go  into  the  dining  room  to 
rest  through  the  night.  The  next  day  the 
same  round  of  labor  would  be  repeated,  un- 
less some  of  the  family  wished  to  ride  out, 
in  which  case  I  must  be  on  hand  with  the 
horses  to  wait  upon  them,  and  in  the  mean- 
time to  work  about  the  yard.  On  Sunday  I 
had  to  drive  to  Church  twice,  which  with 
other  things  necessary  to  be  done,  took  the 
whole  day.  So  my  life  went  wearily  on 
from  day  to  day,  from  night  to  night,  and 
from  week  to  week. 

When  I  began  to  work,  I  discovered  the 
difference  between  myself  and  my  master's 
white  children.  They  began  to  order  me 
about,  and  were  told  to  do  so  by  my  master 
and  mistress.  I  found,  too,  that  they  had 
learned  to  read,  while  I  was  not  permitted 
to  have  a  book  in  my  hand.  To  be  in  the 
possession  of  anything  written  or  printed, 
was  regarded  as  an  offence.  And  then  there 
was  the  fear  that  I  might  be  sold  away  from 
those  who  were  dear  to  me,  and  conveyed 
to  the  far  South.  I  had  learned  that  being 
a  slave  I  was  subject  to  this  worst  (to  us)  of 
all  calamities  ;  and  I  knew  of  others  in  sim- 
ilar situations  to  myself,  thus  sold  away. 
My  friends  were  not  numerous  ;  but  in  pro- 
portion as  they  were  few  they  were  dear  ; 
and  the  thought  that  I  might  be  separated 
from  them  forever,  was  like  that  of  having 


8  NARRATIVE. 

the  heart  torn  from  its  socket;  while  the 
idea  of  being  conveyed  to  the  far  South, 
seemed  infinitely  worse  than  the  terrors  of 
death.  To  know,  also,  that  I  was  never  to 
consult  my  own  will,  but  was,  while  I  lived, 
to  be  entirely  under  the  control  of  another, 
was  another  state  of  mind  hard  for  me  to 
bear.  Indeed  all  things  now  made  me  feel, 
what  I  had  before  known  only  in  words, 
that  I  was  a  slave.  Deep  was  this  feeling, 
and  it  preyed  upon  my  heart  like  a  never- 
dying  worm.  I  saw  no  prospect  that  my 
condition  would  ever  be  changed.  Yet  I 
used  to  plan  in  my  mind  from  day  to  day, 
and  from  night  to  night,  how  I  might  be 
free. 

One  day,  while  I  was  in  this  state  of 
mind,  my  father  gave  me  a  small  basket  of 
peaches.  I  sold  them  for  thirty  cents,  which 
was  the  first  money  I  ever  had  in  my  life. 
Afterwards  I  won  some  marbles,  and  sold 
them  for  sixty  cents,  and  some  weeks  after 
Mr.  Hog  from  Fayetteville,  came  to  visit  my 
master,  and  on  leaving  gave  me  one  dollar. 
After  that  Mr.  Bennahan  from  Orange 
county,  gave  me  a  dollar,  and  a  son  of  my 
master  fifty  cents.  These  sums,  and  the 
hope  that  then  entered  my  mind  of  purchas- 
ing at  some  future  time  my  freedom,  made 
me  long  for  money  ;  and  plans  for  money- 
making  took  the  principal  possession  of  my 
thoughts.  At  night  I  would  steal  away 
with  my  axe,  get  a  load  of  wood  to  cut  for 


PLANS    FOR    FREEDOM. 


twenty -five  cents,  and  the  next  morning 
hardly  escape  a  whipping  for  the  offence. 
But  I  persevered  until  I  had  obtained  twenty 
dollars.  Now  I  began  to  think  seriously  of 
becoming  able  to  buy  myself;  and  cheered 
by  this  hope,  I  went  on  from  one  thing  to 
another,  laboring  "at  dead  of  night,"  after 
the  long  weary  day's  toil  for  my  master  was 
over,  till  I  found  I  had  collected  one  hundred 
•dollars.  This  sum  I  kept  hid,  first  in  one 
place  and  then  in  another,  as  I  dare  not  put 
it  out,  for  fear  I  should  lose  it. 

After  this  I  lit  upon  a  plan  which  proved 
of  great  advantage  to  me.  My  father  sug- 
gested a  mode  of  preparing  smoking  tobacco, 
different  from  any  then  or  since  employed. 
It  had  the  double  advantage  of  giving  the 
tobacco  a  peculiarly  pleasant  flavor,  and  of 
enabling  me  to  manufacture  a  good  article 
out  of  a  very  indifferent  material.  I  im- 
proved somewhat  upon  his  suggestion,  and 
commenced  the  manufacture,  doing  as  1  have 
before  said,  all  my  work  in  the  night.  '  The 
tobacco  I  put  up  in  papers  of  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  pound  each,  and  sold  them  at  fifteen 
cents.  But  the  tobacco  could  not  be  smoked 
without  a  pipe,  and  as,  I  had  given  the 
former  a  flavor  peculiarly  grateful,  it  occur- 
red to  me  that  1  might  so  construct  a  pipe  as 
to  cool  the  smoke  in  passing  through  it,  and 
thus  meet  the  wishes  of  those  who  are  more 
fond  of  smoke  than  heat.  This  I  effected  by 
means  of  a  reed,  which  grows  plentifully  in 
2* 


10  NARRATIVE. 

that  region  ;  I  made  a  passage  through  the 
reed  with  a  hot  wire,  polished  it,  and  at- 
tached a  clay  pipe  to  the  end,  so  that  the 
smoke  should  be  cooled  in  flowing  through 
the  stem  like  whiskey  or  rum  in  passing 
from  the  boiler  through  the  worm  of  the 
still.  These  pipes  I  sold  at  ten  cents  apiece. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  night  I  would  sell 
my  tobacco  and  pipes,  and  manufacture 
them  in  the  latter  part.  As  the  Legislature 
sit  in  Raleigh  every  year,  I  sold  these  arti- 
cles considerably  to  the  members,  so  that  I 
became  known  not  only  in  the  cily,  but  in 
many  parts  of  the  State,  as  a  tobacconist. 

Perceiving  that  I  was  getting  along  so 
well,  I  began,  slave  as  I  was,  to  think  about 
taking  a  wife.  So  I  fixed  my  mind  upon 
Miss  Lucy  Williams,  a  slave  of  Thomas 
Devereaux,  Esq.,  an  eminent  lawyer  in  the 
place  ;  but  failed  in  my  undertaking.  Then 
I  thought  I  never  would  marry ;  but  at  the 
end  of  two  or  three  years  my  resolution  be- 
gan to  slide  away,  till  finding  I  could  not 
keep  it  longer  I  set  out  once  more  in  pursuit 
of  a  wife.  So  I  fell  in  with  her  to  whom  I 
am  now  united,  Miss  Martha  Curtis,  and 
the  bargain  between  us  was  completed.  I 
next  went  to  her  master,  Mr.  Boylan,  and 
asked  him,  according  to  the  custom,  if  I 
might  "  marry  his  woman."  His  reply  was, 
"  Yes,  if  you  will  behave  yourself."  I  told 
him  I  would.  "  And  make  her  behave  her- 
self?"    To  this  I  also  assented;  and   then 


MARRIAGE.  11 

proceeded  to  ask  the  approbation  of  my  mas- 
ter, which  was  granted.  So  in  May,  1828, 
I  was  bound  as  fast  in  wedlock  as  a  slave 
can  be.  God  may  at  any  time  sunder  that 
band  in  a  freeman  ;  either  master  may  do 
the  same  at  pleasure  in  a  slave.  The 
bond  is  not  recognized  in  law.  But  in  my 
case  it  has  never  been  broken;  and  now  it 
cannot  be,  except  by  a  higher  power. 

When  we  had  been  married  nine  months 
and  one  day,  we  were  blessed  with  a  son, 
and  two  years  afterwards  with  a  daughter. 
My  wife  also  passed  from  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Boylan,  into  those  of  Mr.  Benjamin  B.  Smith, 
a  merchant,  a  member  and  class-leader  in 
the  Methodist  church,  and  in  much  repute 
for  his  deep  piety  and  devotion  to  religion. 
But  grace  (of  course)  had  not  wrought  in 
the  same  manner  upon  the  heart  of  Mr. 
Smith,  as  nature  had  done  upon  that  of  Mr. 
Boylan,  who  made  no  religious  profession. 
This  latter  gentleman  used  to  give  my  wife, 
who  was  a  favorite  slave,  (her  mother  nursed 
every  one  of  his  own  children.)  sufficient 
food  and  clothing  to  render  her  comfortable, 
so  that  I  had  to  spend  for  her  but  little,  ex- 
cept to  procure  such  small  articles  of  extra 
comfort  as  I  was  prompted  to  from  time  to 
time.  Indeed  Mr.  Boylan  was  regarded  as 
a  very  kind  master  to  all  the  slaves  about 
him  ;  that  is,  to  his  house  servants ;  nor  did 
he  personally  inflict  much  cruelty,  if  any, 
upon  his  field  hands.     The  overseer  on  his 


12  NARRATIVE. 

nearest  plantation  (I  know  but  little  about 
the  rest)  was  a  very  cruel  man ;  in  one  in- 
stance, as  it  was  said  among  the  slaves,  he 
whipped  a  man  to  death  ;  but  of  course  de- 
nied that  the  man  died  in  consequence  of  the 
whipping.  Still  it  was  the  choice  of  my 
wife  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Smith,  as 
she  had  become  attached  to  him  in  conse- 
quence of  belonging  to  the  same  church, 
and  receiving  his  religious  instruction  and 
counsel  as  her  class-leader,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  the  peculiar  devotedness  to  the 
cause  of  religion  for  which  he  was  noted, 
and  which  he  always  seemed  to  manifest. — 
But  when  she  became  his  slave,  he  withheld 
both  from  her  and  her  children,  the  needful 
food  and  clothing,  while  he  exacted  from 
them  to  the  uttermost  all  the  labor  they  were 
able  to  perform.  Almost  every  article  of 
clothing  worn  either  by  my  wife  or  children, 
especially  every  article  of  much  value,  I  had 
to  purchase;  while  the  food  he  furnished 
the  family  amounted  to  less  than  a  meal  a 
day,  and  that  of  the  coarser  kind.  I  have 
no  remembrance  that  he  ever  gave  us  a 
blanket  or  any  other  article  of  bedding, 
although  it  is  considered  a  rule  at  the  South 
that  the  master  shall  furnish  each  of  his 
slaves  with  one  blanket  a  year.  So  that, 
both  as  to  food  and  clothing,  I  had  in  fact  to 
support  both  my  wife  and  the  children, 
while  he  claimed  them  as  his  property,  and 
received  all  their  labor.     She  was  a  house 


TREATMENT    OF   MY  FAMILY.  13 

servant  to  Mr.  Smith,  sometimes  cooked  the 
food  for  his  family,  and  usually  took  it  from 
the  table,  but  her  mistress  was  so  particular 
in  giving  it  out  to  be  cooked,  or  so  watched 
it,  that  she  always  knew  whether  it  was  all 
returned ;  and  when  the  table  was  cleared 
away,  the  stern  old  lady  would  sit  by  and 
see  that  every  dish  (except  the  very  little 
she  would  send  into  the  kitchen)  was  put 
away,  and  then  she  would  turn  the  key  upon 
it,  so  as  to  be  sure  her  slaves  should  not  die 
of  gluttony.  This  practice  is  common  with 
some  families  in  that  region ;  but  with  others 
it  is  not.  It  was  not  so  in  that  of  her  less 
pious  master,  Mr.  Boylan,  nor  was  it  pre- 
cisely so  at  my  master's.  We  used  to  have 
corn  bread  enough,  and  some  meat.  When 
I  was  a  boy,  the  pot-liquor,  in  which  the 
meat  was  boiled  for  the  "  great  house,"  to- 
gether with  some  little  corn-meal  balls  that 
had  been  thrown  in  just  before'  the  meat  was 
done,  was  poured  into  a  tray  and  set  in  the 
middle  of  the  yard,  and  a  clam  shell  or  pew- 
ter spoon  given  to  each  of  us  children,  who 
would  fall  upon  the  delicious  fare  as  greedi- 
ly as  pigs.  It  was  not  generally  so  much  as 
we  wanted,  consequently  it  was  customary 
for  some  of  the  white  persons  who  saw  us 
from  the  piazza  of  the  house  where  they 
were  sitting,  to  order  the  more  stout  and 
greedy  ones  to  eat  slower,  that  those  more 
young  and  feeble  might  have  a  chance.  But 
it  was  not  so  with  Mr.  Smith:  such  luxu- 


14  NARRATIVE. 

ries  were  more  than  he  could  afford,  kind 
and  Christian  man  as  he  was  considered  to 
be.  So  that  by  the  expense  of  providing  for 
my  wife  and  children,  all  the  money  I  had 
earned  and  could  earn  by  my  night  labor 
was  consumed,  till  I  found  myself  reduced 
to  five  dollars,  and  this  I  lost  one  day  in  go- 
ing to  the  plantation.  My  light  of  hope  now 
went  out.  My  prop  seemed  to  have  given 
way  from  under  me.  Sunk  in  the  very 
night  or  despair  respecting  my  freedom,  I 
discovered  myself,  as  though  I  had  never 
known  it  before,  a  husband,  the  father  of 
two  children,  a  family  looking  up  to  me  for 
bread,  and  I  a  slave,  penniless,  and  well 
watched  by  my  master,  his  wife  and  his 
children,  lest  I  should,  perchance,  catch  the 
friendly  light  of  the  stars  to  make  some- 
thing in  order  to  supply  the  cravings  of  na- 
ture in  those  with  whom  my  soul  was  bound 
up  ;  or  lest  some  plan  of  freedom  might  lead 
me  to  trim  the  light  of  diligence  after  the 
day's  labor  was  over,  while  the  rest  of  the 
world  were  enjoying  the  hours  in  pleasure  or 
sleep. 

At  this  time  an  event  occurred,  which, 
while  it  cast  a  cloud  over  the  prospects  of 
some  of  my  fellow  slaves,  was  a  rainbow 
over  mine.  My  master  died  ;  and  his  widow, 
by  the  will,  became  sole  executrix  of  his 
property.  To  the  surprise  of  all,  the  bank 
of  which  he  had  been  cashier  present- 
ed a  claim  against  the  estate  for  forty   thou- 


LABORING  FOR  FREEDOM.         15 

sand  dollars.  By  a  compromise,  this  sum 
was  reduced  to  twenty  thousand  dollars; 
and  my  mistress,  to  meet  the  amount,  sold 
some  of  her  slaves,  and  hired  out  others.  I 
hired  my  time  of  her,*  for  which  I  paid  her 
a  price  varying  from  one  hundred  dollars  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  per  year. 
This  was  a  privilege  which  comparatively 
few  slaves  at  the  South  enjoy  ;  and  in  this  I 
felt  truly  blessed. 

I  commenced  the  manufacture  of  pipes 
and  tobacco  on  an  enlarged  scale.  I  opened 
a  regular  place  of  business,  labelled  my  to- 
bacco in  a  conspicuous  manner  with  the 
names  of  "  Edward  and  Lunsford  Lane" 
and  of  some  of  the  persons  who  sold  it  for 
me, — established  agencies  for  the  sale  in 
various  parts  of  the  State,  one  at  Fayette- 
ville,  one  at  Salisbury,  one  at  Chapel  Hill, 
and  so  on, — sold  my  articles  from  my  place 
of  business,  and  about  town,  also  deposited 
them  in  stores  on  commission,  and  thus,  after 
paying  my  mistress  for  my  time,  and  render- 
ing such  support  as  necessary  to  my  family, 

*  It  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  State  for  a  slave  to 
have  command  of  his  own  time  in  this  way,  but  in  Raleigh 
it  is  sometimes  winked  at.  I  knew  one  slave-man  who 
was  doing  well  for  himself,  taken  up  by  the  public  author- 
ities and  hired  out  for  the  public  good,  three  times  in  suc- 
cession for  this  offence.  The  time  of  hiring  in  such  a  case 
is  one  year.  The  master  is  subject  to  a  fine.  But  gener- 
ally, as  I  have  said,  if  the  slave  is  orderly  and  appears  to 
be  making  nothing,  neither  he  nor  the  master  is  inter- 
fered with. 


16  NARRATIVE. 

I  found  in  the  space  of  some  six  or  eight 
years,  that  I  had  collected  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars.  During  this  time  I  had 
found  it  politic  to  go  shabbily  dressed,  and 
to  appear  to  be  very  poor,  but  to  pay  my 
mistress  for  my  services  promptly.  I  kept 
my  money  hid,  never  venturing  to  put  out  a 
penny,  nor  to  let  any  body  but  my  wife 
know  that  I  was  making  any.  The  thousand 
dollars  was  what  I  supposed  my  mistress 
would  ask  for  me,  and  so  I  determined  now 
what  I  would  do. 

I  went  to  my  mistress  and  inquired  what 
was  her  price  for  me.  She  said  a  thousand 
dollars.  I  then  told  her  that  I  wanted  to  be 
free,  and  asked  her  if  she  would  sell  me  to 
be  made  free.  She  said  she  would;  and 
accordingly  I  arranged  with  her,  and  with 
the  master  of  my  wife,  Mr.  Smith,  already 
spoken  of,  for  the  latter  to  take  my  money  * 
and  buy  of  her  my  freedom,  as  I  could  not 
legally  purchase  it,  and  as  the  laws  forbid 
emancipation  except,  for  "  meritorious  ser- 
vices." This  done,  Mr.  Smith  endeavored 
to  emancipate  me  formally,  and  to  get  my 
manumission  recorded ;  I  tried  also  ;  but  the 
court  judged  that  I  had  done  nothing  "  meri- 

*  Legally,  my  money  belonged  to  my  mistress  ;  and 
she  could  have  taken  it  and  refused  to  grant  me  my  free- 
dom. But  she  was  a  very  kind  woman  for  a  slave  owner  ; 
and  she  would  under  the  circumstances,  scorn  to  do  such 
a  thing.  I  havo  known  of  slaves,  however,  served  in 
this  way. 


BECOMING    FREE.  ,         17 

torious,"  and  so  I  remained,  nominally  only, 
the  slave  of  Mr.  Smith  for  a  year ;  when, 
feeling  unsafe  in  that  relation,  I  accompa- 
nied him  to  New  York  whither  he  was 
going  to  purchase  goods,  and  was  there  reg- 
ularly and  formally  made  a  freeman,  and 
there  my  manumission  was  recorded.  I  re- 
turned to  my  family  in  Raleigh,  and  endeav- 
ored to  do  by  them  as  a  freeman  should.  I 
had  known  what  it  was  to  be  a  slave,  and  I 
knew  what  it  was  to  be  free. 

But  I  am  going  too  rapidly  over  my  story. 
When  the  money  was  paid  to  my  mistress 
and  the  conveyance  fairly  made  to  Mr. 
Smith,  I  felt  that  I  was  free.  And  a  queer 
and  a  joyous  feeling  it  is  to  one  who  has 
been  a  slave.  I  cannot  describe  it,  only  it 
seemed  as  though  I  was  in  heaven.  1  used 
to  lie  awake  whole  nights  thinking  of  it. 
And  oh,  the  strange  thoughts  that  passed 
through  my  soul,  like  so  many  rivers  of 
light;  deep  and  rich  were  their  waves  as 
they  rolled ; — these  were  more  to  me  than 
sleep,  more  than  soft  slumber  after  long 
months  of  watching  over  the  decaying, 
fading  frame  of  a  friend,  and  the  loved  one 
laid  to  rest  in  the  dust.  But  I  cannot  de- 
scribe my  feelings  to  those  who  have  never 
been  slaves  ;  then  why  should  I  attempt  it  1 
He  who  has  passed  from  spiritual  death  to 
life,  and  received  the  witness  within  his  soul 
that  his  sins  are  forgiven,  may  possibly  form 
some  distant  idea,  like  the  ray  of  the  setting 
3 


18  NARRATIVE. 

sun  from  the  far  off  mountain  top,  of  the 
emotions  of  an  emancipated  slave.  That 
opens  heaven.  To  break  the  bonds  of 
slavery,  opens  up  at  once  both  earth  and 
heaven.  Neither  can  be  truly  seen  by  us 
while  we  are  slaves. 

And  now  will  the  reader  take  with  me  a 
brief  review  of  the  road  I  had  trodden.  I 
cannot  here  dwell  upon  its  dark  shades, 
though  some  of  these  were  black  as  the  pen- 
cillings  of  midnight,  but  upon  the  light  that 
had  followed  my  path  from  my  infancy  up, 
and  had  at  length  conducted  me  quite  out  of 
the  deep  abyss  of  bondage.  There  is  a 
hymn  opening  with  the  following  stanza, 
which  very  much  expresses  my  feelings  : 

"  When  all  thy  mercies,  Oh  my  God, 
My  rising  soul  surveys, 
Transported  with  the  view,  I'm  lost 
In  wonder,  love,  and  praise." 

I  had  endured  what  a  freeman  would  in- 
deed call  hard  fare ;  but  my  lot,  on  the 
whole,  had  been  a  favored  one  for  a  slave. 
It  is  known  that  there  is  a  wide  difference 
in  the  situations  of  what  are  termed  house 
servants,  and  plantation  hands.  I,  though 
sometimes  employed  upon  the  plantation, 
belonged  to  the  former,  which  is  the  favored 
class.  My  master,  too,  was  esteemed  a 
kind  and  humane  man;  and  altogether  I 
fared  quite  differently  from  many  poor  fel- 


PLANTATION    SLAVES.  19 

lows  whom  it  makes  my  blood  run  chill  to 
think  of,  confined  to  the  plantation,  with  not 
enough  of  food  and  that  little  of  the  coarsest 
kind,  to  satisfy  the  gnawings  of  hunger, — 
compelled  oftentimes,  to  hie  away  in  the 
night-time,  when  worn  down  with  work, 
and  steal,  (if  it  be  stealing,)  and  privately 
devour  such  things  as  they  can  lay  their 
hands  upon, — made  to  feel  the  rigors  of 
bondage  with  no  cessation, — torn  away 
sometimes  from  the  few  friends  they  love, 
friends  doubly  dear  because  they  are  few, 
and  transported  to  a  climate  where  in  a  few 
hard  years  they  die,- — or  at  best  conducted 
heavily  and  sadly  to  their  resting  place  un- 
der the  sod,  upon  their  old  master's  planta- 
tion,— sometimes,  perhaps,  enlivening  the 
air  with  merriment,  but  a  forced  merriment, 
that  comes  from  a  stagnant  or  a  stupified 
heart.  Such  as  this  is  the  fate  of  the  plan- 
tation slaves  generally,  but  such  was  not  my 
lot.  My  way  was  comparatively  light,  and 
what  is  better,  it  conducted  to  freedom. 
And  my  wife  and  children  were  with  me. 
After  my  master. died,  my  mistress  sold  a 
number  of  her  slaves  from  their  families 
and  friends — but  not  me.  She  sold  several 
children  from  their  parents — but  my  children 
were  with  me  still.  She  sold  two  husbands 
from  their  wives — but  I  was  still  with  mine. 
She  sold  one  wife  from  her  husband — but 
mine  had  not  been  sold  from  me.  The  mas- 
ter of  my  wife,   Mr.  Smith,  had  separated 


20  NARRATIVE. 

members  of  families  by  sale — but  not  of 
mine.  With  me  and  my  house,  the  tenderer 
tendrils  of  the  heart  still  clung  to  where  the 
vine  had  entwined  ;  pleasant  was  its  shade 
and  delicious  its  fruits  to  our  taste,  though 
we  knew,  and  what  is  more,  we  felt  that  we 
were  slaves.  But  all  around  1  could  see 
where  the  vine  had  been  torn  down,  and  its 
bleeding  branches  told  of  vanished  joys,  and 
of  new  wrought  sorrows,  such  as,  slave 
though  I  was,  had  never  entered  into  my 
practical  experience. 

I  had  never  been  permitted  to  learn  to 
read  ;  but  I  used  to  attend  church,  and  there 
I  received  instruction  which  I  trust  was  of 
some  benefit  to  me.  I  trusted,  too,  that  I 
had  experienced  the  renewing  influences  of 
the  gospel;  and  after  obtaining  from  my 
mistress  a  written  permit,  (a  thing  always 
required  in  such  a  case,)  I  had  been  bap- 
tised and  received  into  fellowship  with  the 
Baptist  denomination.  So  that  in  religious 
matters,  I  had  been  indulged  in  the  exercise 
of  my  own  conscience — a  favor  not  always 
granted  to  slaves.  Indeed  I,  with  others, 
was  often  told  by  the  minister  how  good 
God  was  in  bringing  us  over  to  this  country 
from  dark  and  benighted  Africa,  and  per- 
mitting us  to  listen  to  the  sound  of  the  gos- 
pel. To  me,  God  also  granted  temporal 
freedom,  which  man  without  God's  consent, 
fyad  stolen  away. 

I  often  heard  select  portions  of  the  scrip- 


RELIGIOUS     PRIVILEGES.  2\ 

tares  read.  And  on  the  Sabbath  there  was 
one  sermon  preached  expressly  for  the  color- 
ed people  which  it  was  generally  my  priv- 
ilege to  hear.  I  became  quite  familiar  with 
the  texts,  "Servants  be  obedient  to  your 
masters." — "  Not  with  eye  service  as  men 
pleasers." — {■  He  that  knoweth  his  master's 
will  and  doeth  it  not,  shall  be  beaten  with 
many  stripes,"  and  others  of  this  class:  for 
they  formed  the  basis  of  most  of  these  public 
instructions  to  us.  The  first  command- 
ment impressed  upon  our  minds  was  to  ooey 
our  masters,  and  the  second  was  like  uuto 
it,  namely,  to  do  as  much  work  when  they 
or  the  overseers  were  not  watching  us  as 
when  they  were.  But  connected  with  these 
instructions  there  was  more  or  less  that  was 
truly  excellent;  though  mixed  up  with 
much  that  would  sound  strangely  in  the 
ears  of  freedom.  There  was  one  very  kind 
hearted  Episcopal  minister  whom  I  often 
used  to  hear;  he  was  very  popular  with 
the  colored  people.  But  after  he  had 
preached  a  sermon  to  us  in  which  he  argued 
from  the  Bible  that  it  was  the  will  of  heaven 
from  ail  eternity  we  should  be  slaves,  and 
our  masters  be  our  owners,  most  of  us  left 
him;  for  like  some  of  the  faint  hearted  dis- 
ciples in  early  times  we  said,—"  This  is  a 
hard  saying,  Avho  can  bear  it?" 

My  manumission,  as  I  shall  call  it;  that 
is,  the  bill  of  sale  conveying  me  to  Mr. 
Smith,  was  dated  Sept.  9th,  1835.     I  contin- 


22  NARRATIVE. 

ued  in  the  tobacco  and  pipe  business  as  al- 
ready described,  to  which  I  added  a  small 
trade  in  a  variety  of  articles ;  and  some  two 
years  before  I  left  Raleigh,  I  entered  also 
into  a  considerable  business  in  wood,  which 
I  used  to  purchase  by  the  acre  standing, 
cut  it,  haul  it  into  the  city,  deposit  it  in  a 
yard  and  sell  it  out  as  I  advantageously 
could.  Also  I  was  employed  about  the  office 
of  the  Governor  as  I  shall  hereafter  relate. 
I  used  to  keep  one  or  two  horses,  and  va- 
rious vehicles,  by  which  I  did  a  variety  of 
work  at  hauling  about  town.  Of  course  I 
had  to  hire  more  or  less  help,  to  carry  on 
my  business. 

In  the  manufacture  of  tobacco  I  met  with 
considerable  competition,  but  none  that  ma- 
terially injured  me.  The  method  of  prepar- 
ing it  having  originated  with  me  and  my 
father,  we  found  it  necessary,  in  order  to 
secure  the  advantage  of  the  invention,  to 
keep  it  to  ourselves,  and  decline,  though  of- 
ten solicited,  going  into  partnership  with 
others.  Those  who  undertook  the  manufac- 
ture could  neither  give  the  article  a  flavor  so 
pleasant  as  ours,  nor  manufacture  it  so 
cheaply,  so  they  either  failed  in  it,  or  suc- 
ceeded but  poorly. 

Not  long  after  obtaining  my  own  freedom, 
I  began  seriously  to  think  about  purchasing 
the  freedom  of  my  family.  The  first  propo- 
sition was  that  I  should  buy  my  wife,  and 
that  we  should  jointly  labor  to  obtain  the 


BARGAIN    FOR    MY   FAMILY.  23 

freedom  of  the  children  afterwards  as  we 
were  able.  But  that  idea  was  abandoned, 
when  her  master,  Mr.  Smith,  refused  to  sell 
her  to  me  for  less  than  one  thousand  dollars, 
a  sum  which  then  appeared  too  much  for  me 
to  raise. 

Afterwards,  however,  I  conceived  the  idea 
of  purchasing  at  once  the  entire  family.  I 
went  to  Mr.  Smith  to  learn  his  price,  which 
he  put  at  three  thousand  dollars  for  my  wife 
and  six  children,  the  number  we  then  had. 
This  seemed  a  large  sum,  both  because  it 
was  a  great  deal  for  me  to  raise ;  and  also 
because  Mr.  Smith,  when  he  bought  my  wife 
and  two  children,  had  actually  paid  but  five 
hundred  and  sixty  dollars  for  them,  and  had 
received,  ever  since,  their  labor,  while  I  had 
almost  entirely  supported  them,  both  as  to 
food  and  clothing.  Altogether,  therefore, 
the  case  seemed  a  hard  one,  but  as  I  was 
entirely  in  his  power  I  must  do  the  best  I 
could.  At  length  he  concluded,  perhaps 
partly  of  his  own  motion,  and  partly  through 
the  persuasion  of  a  friend,  to  sell  the  family 
for  $2,500,  as  I  wished  to  free  them,  though 
he  contended  still  that  they  were  worth 
three  thousand  dollars.  Perhaps  they  would 
at  that  time  have  brought  this  larger  sum, 
if  sold  for  the  Southern  market.  The  ar- 
rangement with  Mr.  Smith  was  made  in 
December,  1838.  I  gave  him  five  notes  of 
five  hundred  dollars  each,  the  first  due  in 
January,    1840,  and  one  in  January  each 


24  NARRATIVE. 

succeeding  year  ;  for  which  he  transferred 
my  family  into  my  own  possession,  with  a 
bond  to  give  me  a  bill  of  sale  when  I  should 
pay  the  notes.  With  this  arrangement,  we 
found  ourselves  living  in  our  own  house— a 
house  which  I  had  previously  purchased — - 
in  January,  1839. 

After  moving  my  family,  my  wife  was  for 
a  short  time  sick,  in  consequence  of  her  la- 
bor and  the  excitement  in  moving,  and  her 
excessive  joy.  I  told  her  that  it  reminded 
me  of  a  poor  shoemaker  in  the  neighbor- 
hood who  purchased  a  ticket  in  a  lottery ; 
but  not  expecting  to  draw,  the  fact  of  his 
purchasing  it  had  passed  out  of  his  mind. 
But  one  day  as  he  was  at  work  on  his  last, 
he  was  informed  that  his  ticket  had  drawn 
the  liberal  prize  often  thousand  dollars ;  and 
the  poor  man  was  so  overjoyed,  that  he  fell 
back  on  his  seat,  and  immediately  expired. 

In  this  new  and  joyful  situation,  we  found 
ourselves  getting  along  very  well,  until  Sep- 
tember, 1840,  when  to  my  surprise,  as  I  was 
passing  the  street  one  day,  engaged  in  my 
business,  the  following  note  was  handed  me. 
"  Read  it,"  said  the  officer,  "  or  if  you  can- 
not read,  get  some  white  man  to  read  it  to 
you."     Here  it  is,  verbatim: 

To  Lunsford  Lane,  a  free  man  of  Colour 

Take  notice  that  whereas  complaint  has  been  made  to  us 

two  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  county  of  Wake  and 

state  of  North  Carolina   that   you  are  a  free  negro  from 

another  state  who  has  migrated  into  this  state  contrary  to 


NOTIFIED   TO   LEAVE   THE   STATE.  25 

the  provisions  of  the  act  of  assembly  concerning  free  ne- 
gros  and  mulattoes  now  notice  is  given  you  that  unless  you 
leave  and  remove  out  of  this  state  within  twenty  days  that 
you  will  be  proceeded  against  for  the  penalty  porscribed  by 
said  act  of  assembly  and  be  otherwise  dealt  with  as  the  law 
directs  given  under  our  hands  and  seals  this  the  5th  Sept 
H840  WILLIS  SCOTT  JP  (Seal) 

JORDAN  WOMBLE  JP  (Seal) 
• 

This  was  a  terrible  blow  to  me;  for  it 
prostrated  at  once  all  my  hopes  in  my  cher- 
ished object  of  obtaining  the  freedom  of  my 
family,  and  led  me  to  expect  nothing  but  a 
separation  from  them  forever. 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  understand 
the  full  force  of  the  foregoing  notice,  I  will 
copy  the  Law  of  the  State  under  which  it 
was  issued  : 


Sec.  65.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  free  negro  or 
mulatto  to  migrate  into  this  State  :  and  if  he  or  she  shall 
do  so,  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  being 
thereof  informed,  shall  not,  within  twenty  days  thereafter, 
remove  out  of  the  State,  he  or  she  being  thereof  convicted 
in  the  manner  hereafter  directed,  shall  be  liable  to  a  pen- 
alty of  five  hundred  dollars  ;  and  upon  failure  to  pay  the 
same,  within  the  time  prescribed  in  the  judgment  awarded 
against  such  person  or  persons,  he  or  she  shall  be  liable  to 
be  held  in  servitude  and  at  labor  a  term  of  time  not  ex- 
ceeding ten  years,,  in  such  manner  and  upon  such  terms 
as  may  be  provided  by  the  court  awarding  such  sentence, 
and  the  proceeds  arising  therefrom  shall  be  paid  over  to 
the  county  trustee  for  county  purposes  :  Provided,  that 
in  case  any  free  negro  or  mulatto  shall  pay  the  penalty  of 
five  hundred  dollars,  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  free  negro  or  mulatto  to  re- 
move him  or  herself  out  of  this  State  within  twenty  days 
thereafter,  and  for  every  such  failure,  he  or  she  shall  be 


26  NARRATIVE. 

subject  to  the  like  penalty,  as  is  prescribed  for  a  failure  to 
remove  in  the  first  instance. — Revised  Statutes  North 
Carolina,  chap. '111. 

The  next  section  provides  that  if  the  free 
person  of  color  so  notified,  does  not  leave 
within  the  twenty  days  after  receiving  the 
notice,  he  may  be  arrested  on  a  warrant  from 
any  Justice,  and  be  held  to  bail  for  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  next  county  court,  when  he 
will  be  subject  to  the  penalties  specified  a- 
bove  ;  or  in  case  of  his  failure  to  give  bonds, 
he  may  be  sent  to  jail. 

I  made  known  my  situation  to  my  friends, 
and  after  taking  legal  counsel  it  was  deter- 
mined to  induce,  if  possible,  the  complain- 
ants to  prosecute  no  farther  at  present, 
and  then  as  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
was  to  sit  in  about  two  months,  to  petition 
that  body  for  permission  to  remain  in  the 
State  until  I  could  complete  the  purchase 
of  my  family  ;  after  which  I  was  willing,  if 
necessary,  to  leave. 

From  January  1st,  1837,  I  had  been  em- 
ployed as  I  have  mentioned,  in  the  office  of 
the  Governor  of  the  State,  principally  under 
the  direction  of  his  private  Secretary,  in 
keeping  the  office  in  order,  taking  the  letters 
to  the  Post  Office,  and  doing  such  other 
duties  of  the  sort  as  occurred  from  time  to 
time.  This  circumstance,  with  the  fact  of 
the  high  standing  in  the  city  of  the  family  of 
my  former  master,  and  of  the  former  masters 
of  my  wife,  had  given  me  the  friendship  of 


EFFORTS    TO    REMAIN. 


27 


the  first  people  in  the  place  generally,  who 
from  that  time  forward  acted  towards  me 
the  friendly  part. 

Mr.  Battle,  then  private  Secretary  to 
Governor  Dudley,  addressed  the  following 
letter  to  the  prosecuting  attorney  in  my  be- 
half: 

Raleigh,  Nov.  3,  1840. 

Dear  Sir  : — Lunsford  Lane,  a  free  man  of  color,  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  State  under  me  since  my  enter- 
ing on  my  present  situation.  I  understand  thai?  under  a 
law  of  the  State,  he  has  been  notified  to  leave,  and  that 
the  time  is  now  at  hand. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  duties  I  had  from  him,  I  have 
found  him  prompt,  obedient,  and  faithful.  At  this  particu- 
lar time,  his  absence  to  me  would  be  much  regretted,  as  I 
am  now  just  fixing  up  my  books  and  other  papers  in  the 
new  office,  and  I  shall  not  have  time  to  learn  another  what 
he  can  already  do  so  well.  With  me  the  period  of  the 
Legislature  is  a  very  busy  one,  and  I  am  compelled  to 
have  a  servant  who  understands  the  business  I  want  done, 
and  one  I  can  trust.  1  would  not  wish  to  be  an  obstacle 
in  the  execution  of  any  law,  but  the  enforcing  of  the  one 
against  him,  will  be  doing  me  a  serious  inconvenience, 
and  the  object  of  this  letter  is  to  ascertain  whether  I  could 
not  procure  a  suspension  of  the  sentence  till  after  the  ad- 
journment of  the  Legislature,  say  about  1st  January,  1841. 

I  should  feel  no  hesitation  in  giving  my  word  that  he 
will  conduct  himself  orderly  and  obediently. 
I  am  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  C.  BATTLE. 

G.  W.  Haywood,  Esq. 

Attorney  at  Law,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

To  the  above  letter ,  the  following  reply 
was  made  : 


28  NARRATIVE. 

Raleigh,  Nov.  3,  1840. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  no  objection  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  that  all  further  proceedings  against  Lunsford 
should  be  postponed  until  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
Legislature. 

The  process  now  out  against  him  is  one  issued  by  two 
magistrates,  Messrs.  Willis  Scott  and  Jordan  Womble,  over 
which  I  have  no  control.  You  had  better  see  them  to-day, 
and  perhaps,  at  your  request,  they  will  delay  further  action 
on  the  subject.         Respectfully  yours, 

GEO.  W.  HAYWOOD. 

Mr.  Battle  then  enclosed  the  foregoing 
correspondence  to  Messrs.  Scott  and  Wom- 
ble, requesting  their  "  favorable  considera- 
tion." They  returned  the  correspondence, 
but  neglected  to  make  any  reply. 

In  consequence,  however,  of  this  action  on 
the  part  of  my  friends,  I  was  permitted  to 
remain  without  further  interruption,  until 
the  day  the  Legislature  commenced  its  ses- 
sion. On  that  day  a  warrant  was  served 
upon  me,  to  appear  before  the  county  court, 
to  answer  for  the  sin  of  having  remained  in 
the  place  of  my  birth  for  the  space  of  twenty 
days  and  more  after  being  warned  out.  I 
escaped  going  to  jail  through  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  Haywood,  a  son  of  my  former  master, 
and  Mr.  Smith,  who  jointly  became  se- 
curity for  my  appearance  at  court. 

This  was  on  Monday  ;  and  on  Wednes- 
day I  appeared  before  the  court;  but  as  my 
prosecutors  were  not  ready  for  the  trial,  the 
case  was  laid  over  three  months,  to  the  next 
term. 


EFFORTS  TO  REMAIN.  29 

]  then  proceeded   to  get  up  a  petition  to 

i  the  Legislature.     It  required  much  hard  la- 

I  bor  and  persuasion  on  my  part  to  start  it ; 

but  after  that,  I  readily  obtained  the  signa- 

1  tures   of  the   principal   men   in    the  place. 

Then  I  went  round  to  the  members,  many 

of  whom  were  known  to  me,  calling  upon 

them  at   their  rooms,  and  urging  them  for 

my  sake,  for  humanity's  sake,  for  the  sake 

of  my  wife  and  little  ones,  whose  hopes  had 

I  been  excited  by  the  idea  that  they  were. even 

I  now  free ;  I  appealed  to  them  as  husbands, 

I  fathers,  brothers,  sons,  to  vote  in  favor  of 
i  my  petition,  and  allow  me  to  remain  in  the 
•State  long  enough  to  purchase  my  family. 

II  was  doing  well  in  business,  and  it  would 
1  be  but  a  short  time  before  I  could  accomplish 

I  the  object.  Then,  if  it  was  desired,  I  and 
my  wile  and  children,  redeemed  from  bond- 
age, would  together  seek  a  more  friendly 
home,  beyond  the  dominion  of  slavery.  The 
following  is  the  petition  presented,  endorsed 
as  the  reader  will  see  : 

To  the  Hon.  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

Gentlemen  : — The  petition  of  Lunsford  Lane  humbly  . 
shews — That  about  five  years  ago,  he  purchased  his  freedom 
from  \his  mistress,  Mrs.  Sherwood  Haywood,  and  by  great 
economy  and  industry  has  paid  the  purchase  money  j  that  he 
has  a  wife  and  seven  children  whom  he  has  agreed  to  purchase, 
and  for  whom  he  has  paid  a  part  of  the  purchase  money  3  but 
not  having  paid  in  lull,  is  not  yet  able  to  leave  the  State,  with- 
out parting  with  his  wife  and  children. 

Your  petitioner  prays  your  Honorable  Body  to  pass  a  law 
allowing  him  to  remain  a  limited  time  within  the  State,  until 

4 


30  NARRATIVE. 

he  can  remove  his  family  also.    Your  petitioner  will  give  bond 
and  good  security  for  his  good  behaviour  while  he  remains. 
Your  petitioner  will  ever  pray,  &c. 

LUNSFORD  LANE. 

The  undersigned  are  well  acquainted  with  Lunsford  Lane, 
the  petitioner,  and  join  in  his  petition  to  the  Assembly  for  re- 
lief. 

Charles  Manly,  Drury  Lacy, 

R.  W.  Haywood,  Will.  Peck, 

Eleanor  Haywood,  W.  A.  Stith, 

Wm.  Hill,  A.  B.  Stith, 

R.  Smith,  J.  Brown, 

Wm.  Peace,  William  White, 

Jos.  Peace,  Geo.  Simpson, 

Wm.  M'Pheeters,  Jno.  I.  Christophers, 

Wm.  Boylan,  John  Primrose, 

Fabius  J.  Haywood,  Hugh  M'Queen, 

D.  W.  Stone,  Alex.  J.  Lawrence, 

T.  Meredith,  C.  L.  Hinton. 
A.J.  Battle, 

Lunsford  Lane,  the  petitioner  herein, has  been  servant  to  the 
Executive  Office  since  the  1st  of  January,  1837,  and  it  gives 
me  pleasure  to  state  that,  during  the  whole  time,  without  ex- 
ception, I  have  found  him  faithful  and  obedient,  in  keeping 
every  thing  committed  to  his  care  in  good  condition.  From 
what  I  have  seen  of  his  conduct  and  demeanor,  I  cheerfully  join 
in  the  petition  for  his  relief.  C.  C.  BATTLE, 

P.  Secretary  to  Gov.  Dudley. 
Raleigh,  Nov.  20, 1840. 

The  foregoing  petition  was  presented  to 
the  Senate.  It  was  there  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee. I  knew  when  the  committee  was 
to  report,  and  watched  about  the  State 
House  that  I  might  receive  the  earliest  news 
of  the  fate  of  my  petition.  I  should  have 
gone  within  the  senate  chamber,  but  no  col- 
ored man  has  that  permission.  I  do  not 
know  why,  unless  for  fear  he  may  hear  the 
name  of  Liberty.      By  and  by  a  member 


EFFORTS    TO    REMAIN.  31 

came  out,  and  as  he  passed  me,  said  "  Well, 
Lunsford,  they  have  laid  you  out ;  the  nigger 
Bill  is  killed"  I  need  not  tell  the  reader 
that  my  feelings  did  not  enter  into  the  mer- 
riment of  this  honorable  senator.  To  me, 
the  fate  of  my  petition  was  the  last  blow  to 
my  hopes.  I  had  done  all  I  could  do,  had 
said  all  I  could  say,  laboring  night  and  day, 
to  obtain  a  favorable  reception  to  my  peti- 
tion ;  but  all  in  vain.  Nothing  appeared 
before  me  but  I  must  leave  the  State,  and 
leave  my  wife  and  my  children  never  to  see 
them  more.  My  friends  had  also  done  all 
they  could  for  me. 

And  why  must  I  be  banished?  Ever  af- 
ter I  entertained  the  first  idea  of  being  free, 
I  had  endeavored  so  to  conduct  myself  as 
not  to  become  obnoxious  to  the  white  inhab- 
itants, knowing  as  I  did  their  power,  and 
their  hostility  to  the  colored  people.  The 
two  points  necessary  in  such  a  case  I  had 
kept  constantly  in  mind.  First,  I  had  made 
no  display  of  the  little  property  or  money  I 
possessed,  but  in  every  way  I  wore  as  much 
as  possible  the  aspect  of  poverty.  Second, 
I  had  never  appeared  to  be  even  so  intelli- 
gent as  I  really  was.  This  all  colored  peo- 
ple at  the  south,  free  and  slaves,  find  it  pe- 
culiarly necessary  to  their  own  comfort  and 
safety  to  observe. 

I  should,  perhaps,  have  mentioned  that 
on  the  same  day  I  received  the  notice  to 
leave  Raleigh,  similar  notices  were  present- 


32  NARRATIVE. 

ed  to  two  other  free  colored  people,  who  had 
been  slaves ;  were  trying  to  purchase  their 
families  ;  and  were  otherwise  in  a  like  situ- 
ation to  myself.  And  they  took  the  same 
course  I  did  to  endeavor  to  remain  a  limited 
time.  Isaac  Hunter,  who  had  a  family  with 
five  children,  was  one;  and  Waller  Free- 
man, who  had  six  children,  was  the  other. 
Mr., Hunter's  petition  went  before  mine  ;  and 
a  bill  of  some  sort  passed  the  Senate,  which 
was  so  cut  down  in  the  Commons,  as  to  al- 
low him  only  twenty  days  to  remain  in  the 
State.  He  has  since,  however,  obtained  the 
freedom  of  his  family,  who  are  living  with 
him  in  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Freeman's  petition  received  no  better 
fate  than  mine.  His  family  were  the  prop- 
erty of  Judge  Badger,  who  was  afterwards 
made  a  member  of  Mr.  Harrison's  cabinet. 
When  Mr.  Badger  removed  to  Washington, 
he  took  with  him  among  other  slaves  this 
family ;  and  Freeman  removed  also  to  that 
city.  After  this,  when  Mr.  B.  resigned  his 
office,  with  the  other  members  of  the  cabi- 
net, under  President  Tyler,  he  entered  into 
some  sort  of  contract  with  Freeman,  to  sell 
him  this  family,  which  he  left  at  Washing- 
ton, while  he  took  the  rest  of  his  slaves 
back  to  Raleigh.  Freeman  is  now  endeav- 
oring to  raise  money  to  make  the  purchase. 

It  was  now  between  two  and  three  months 
to  the  next  session  of  the  court ;  and  I  knew 
that  before  or  at  that  time  I  must  leave  the 


LEAVING  THE  STATE.  33 

State.  I  was  bound  to  appear  before  the 
court ;  but  it  had  been  arranged  between  my 
lawyer  and  the  prosecuting  attorney,  that  if 
I  would  leave  the  State,  and  pay  the  costs  of 
court,  the  case  should  be  dropped,  so  that 
my  bondsmen  should  not  be  involved.  I 
therefore  concluded  to  stay  as  long  as  I  pos- 
sibly could,  and  then  leave.  I  also  deter- 
mined to  appeal  to  the  kindness  of  the  friends 
of  the  colored  man  in  the  North,  for  assist- 
ance, though  I  had  but  little  hope  of  suc- 
ceeding in  this  way.  Yet  it  was  the  only 
course  I  could  think  of,  by  which  I  could 
see  any  possible  hope  of  accomplishing  the 
object. 

I  had  paid  Mr.  Smith  six  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars;  and  had  a  house  and  lot 
worth  five  hundred  dollars,  which  he  had 
promised  to  take  when  I  should  raise  the  bal- 
ance. He  gave  me  also  a  bill  of  sale  of  one  of 
my  children,  Laura,  in  consideration  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of  the  money  already 
paid  ;  and  her  I  determinecTto  take  with  me 
to  the  North.  The  costs  of  court  which  I 
had  to  meet,  amounted  to  between  thirty  and 
forty  dollars,  besides  the  fee  of  my  lawyer. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1841,  three  days  af- 
ter the  court  commenced  its  session,  I  bid 
adieu  to  my  friends  in  Raleigh,  and  set  out 
for  the  city  of  New  York.  I  took  with  me 
a  letter  of  introduction  and  recommendation 
from  Mr.  John  Primrose,  a  very  estimable 
man,  a  recommendatory  certificate  from  Mr. 
4* 


34  NARRATIVE. 

Battle,  and  a  letter  from  the  church  of  which 
I  was  a  member,  together  with  such  papers 
relating  the  affair  as  I  had  in  my  possession. 
Also  I  received  the  following : 

Raleigh,  N.  C.  May,  1841. 
The  bearer,  Lunsford  Lane,  a  free  man  of  color,  for  some 
time  a  resident  in  this  place,  being:  about  to  leave  North  Caro- 
ina  in  search  of  a  more  favorable  location  to  pursue  his  trade, 
has  desired  us  to  give  him  a  certificate  of  his  good  conduct 
heretofore. 

We  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  his  habits  are  temperate  and 
industrious,  that  his  conduct  has  been  orderly  and  proper,  and 
that  he  has  for  these  qualities  been  distinguished  among  his 
«aste. 

Wm.  Hill,  R.  Smith, 

Weston  R.  Gales,  C.  Dewey. 

C.  L.  Hinton, 

The  above  was  certified  to  officially  in  the 
usual  form  by  the  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions. 

My  success  in  New  York  was  at  first 
small ;  but  at  length  I  fell  in  with  two  friends 
who  engaged  to  raise  for  me  three  hundred 
dollars,  provided  1  should  first  obtain  from 
other  sources  the  balance  of  the  sum  required, 
which  balance  would  be  one  thousand  and 
eighty  dollars.  Thus  encouraged,  I  pro- 
ceeded to  Boston  ;  and  in  the  city  and  vi- 
cinity the  needful  sum  was  contributed  by 
about  the  1st  of  April,  1842.  My  thanks  I 
have  endeavored  to  express  in  my  poor  way 
to  the  many  friends  who  so  kindly  and  lib- 
erally assisted  me.  I  cannot  reward  them  ; 
I  hope  they  will  receive  their  reward  in 
another  world.     If  the  limits  of  this  publi- 


AT  BOSTON.  35 

cation  would  permit,  I  should  like  to  record 
the  names  of  many  to  whom  I  am  very  es- 
pecially indebted  for  their  kindness  and  aid, 
not  only  in  contributing,  but  in  introducing 
me,  and  opening  various  ways  of  access  to 
others. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1842,  rinding  that 
I  should  soon  have  in  my  possession  the  sum 
necessary  to  procure  my  family,  and  fearing 
that  there  might  be  danger  in  visiting  Ra- 
leigh for  that  purpose,  in  consequence  of  the 
strong  opposition  of  many  of  the  citizens 
against  colored  people,  their  opposition  to 
me,  and  their  previously  persecuting  me 
from  the  city,  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Smith,  request- 
ing him  to  see  the  Governor,  and  obtain  un- 
der his  hand  a  permit  to  visit  the  State  for  a 
sufficient  time  to  accomplish  this  business.  1 
requested  Mr.  Smith  to  publish  the  permit  in 
one  or  two  of  the  city  papers,  and  then  to 
enclose  the  original  to  me.  This  letter  he 
answered,  under  date  of  Raleigh,  19th  Feb. 
1841,  as  follows.: 

Lunsford  : — Your  letter  of  the  5th  inst.  came  duly  to  hand, 
and  in  reply  i  have  to  inform  you,  that  owing  to  the  absence  of 
Gov.  Morehead,  I  cannot  send  you  the  permit  you  requested, 
but  this  will  make  no  difference,  for  you  can  come  home,  and 
-after  your  arrival  you  may  obtain  one  to  remain  long-  enough  to 
settle  up  your  affairs.  You  ought  of  course  to  apply  to  the  Gov- 
ernor immediately  on  your  arrival,  before  any  malicious  per- 
son would  have  time  to  inform  against  you  ;  I  don't  think  by 
pursuing  this  course  you  need  apprehend  any  danger. 
*  #  #  #  *  *  * 

We  are  all  alive  at  present  in  Raleigh  on  the  subjects  of  tem- 
perance and  religion.  We  have  taken  into  the  temperance  so- 
cieties, about  five  hundred   members,  and  about  fifty  persons 


36  NARRATIVE. 

have  been  happily  converted.  *  *  *  The  work  seems  still 
to  be  spreading,  and  such  a  lime  I  have  never  seen  before  in 
my  life.     Glorious  times  truly. 

Do  try  and  get  all  the  religion  in  your  heart  you  possibly  can, 
for  it  is  the  only  thing  worth  having  after  all. 

Your,  &c.  B.  B.  SMITH. 


The  way  now  appeared  to  be  in  a  measure 
open  ;  also  I  thought  that  the  religious  and 
temperance  interest  mentioned  in  the  latter 
portion  of  Mr.  Smith's  letter,  augured  a  state 
of  feeling  which  would  be  a  protection  to  me. 
But  fearing  still  that  there  might  be  danger 
in  visiting  Raleigh  without  the  permit  from 
the  Governor,  or  at  least  wishing  to  take 
every  possible  precaution,  I  addressed  anoth- 
er letter  to  Mr.  Smith,  and  received  under 
date  of  March  12th,  a  reply,  from  which  I 
copy  as  follows : 


"  The  Governor  has  just  returned,  and  I  called  upon  him  to 
get  the  permit  as  you  requested,  but  he  said  he  had  no  authority 
by  law  to  grant  one ;  and  he  told  me  to  say  to  you,  that  you 
might  in  perfect  safety  come  home  in  a  quiet  mariner,  and  re- 
main twenty  days  without  being  interrupted.  I  also  consulted 
Mr.  Manly  [a  lawyer]  and  he  told  me  the  same  thing.  *  *  * 
Surely  you  need  not  fear  any  thing  under  these  circumstances. 
You  had  therefore  better  come  on  just  as  soon  as  possible." 


I  need  not  say,  what  the  reader  has  al- 
ready seen,  that  my  life  so  far  had  been  one 
of  joy  succeeding  sorrow,  and  sorrow  fol- 
lowing joy  ;  of  hope,  of  despair,  of  bright 
prospects,  of  gloom  ;  and  of  as  many  hues 
as  ever  appear  on  the  varied  sky,  from  the 
black  of  midnight,  or  the  deep  brown  of  a 


VISIT    TO    RALEIGH.  37 

tempest,  to  the  bright  warm  glow  of  a  clear 
noon  day.  On  the  11th  of  April,  it  was  noon 
with  me  ;  I  left  Boston  on  my  way  for  Ra- 
leigh with  high  hopes,  intending  to  pay  over 
the  money  for  my  family  and  return  with 
them  to  Boston,  which  I  designed  should  be 
my  future  home;  for  there  I  had  found 
friends,  and  there  I  would  find  a  grave.  The 
visit  I  was  making  to  the  South  was  to  be  a 
farewell  one ;  and  1  did  not  dream  that  my 
old  cradle,  hard  as  it  once  had  jostled  me, 
would  refuse  to  rock  me  a  pleasant,  or  even 
an  affectionate  good  bye.  I  thought,  too, 
that  the  assurances  I  had  received  from  the 
Governor,  through  Mr.  Smith,  and  the  as- 
surances of  other  friends,  were  a  sufficient 
guaranty  that  I  might  visit  the  home  of  my 
boyhood,  of  my  youth,  of  my  manhood,  in 
peace,  especially  as  I  was  to  stay  but  for  a 
few  days  and  then  to  return.  With  these 
thoughts,  and  with  the  thoughts  of  my  fam- 
ily and  freedom,  I  pursued  my  way  to  Ra- 
leigh, and  arrived  there  on  the  23d  of  the 
month.  It  was  Saturday  about  four  o'clock, 
P.  M.  when  I  found  myself  once  more  in  the 
midst  of  my  family.  With  them  I  remained 
over  the  Sabbath,  as  it  was  sweet  to  spend 
a  little  time  with  them  after  so  long  an  ab- 
sence, an  absence  filled  with  so  much  of  in- 
terest to  us,  and  as  I  could  not  do  any  busi- 
ness until  the  beginning  of  the  week.  On 
Monday  morning  between  eight  and  nine 
o'clock,  while  I  was  making  ready  to  leave 


38  NARRATIVE. 

the  house  for  the  first  time  after  my  arrival, 
to  go  the  store  of  Mr.  Smith,  where  I  was 
to  transact  my  business  with  him,  two  con- 
stables, Messrs.  Murray  and  Scott,  entered, 
accompanied  by  two  other  men,  and  sum- 
moned me  to  appear  immediately  before  the 
police.  I  accordingly  accompanied  them  to 
the  City  Hall,  but  as  it  was  locked  and  the 
officers  could  not  at  once  find  the  key,  we 
were  told  that  the  court  would  be  held  in 
Mr.  Smith's  store,  a  large  and  commodious 
room.  This  was  what  is  termed  in  common 
phrase,  in  Raleigh,  a  "call  court."  The 
Mayor,  Mr.  Loring,  presided,  assisted  by 
William  Boylan  and  Jonathan  Busbye,  Esqs. 
Justices  of  the  Peace.  There  were  a  large 
number  of  people  together — more  than  could 
obtain  admission  to  the  room,  and  a  large 
company  of  mobocratic  spirits  crowded 
around  the  door.  Mr.  Loring  read  the  writ, 
setting  forth  that  I  had  been  guilty  of  deliv- 
ering  abolition  lectures  in  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  asked  me  whether  I  was  guilty 
or  not  guilty.  I  told  him  I  did  not  know 
whether  I  had  given  abolition  lectures  or 
not,  but  if  it  pleased  the  court,  I  would  re- 
late the  course  I  had  pursued  during  my  ab- 
sence from  Raleigh.  He  then  said  that  I 
was  at  liberty  to  speak.      * 

The  circumstances  under  which  I  left 
Raleigh,  said  I,  are  perfectly  familiar  to  you. 
It  is  known  that  I  had  no  disposition  to  re- 
move from  this  city,  but  resorted  to  every 


BEFORE    THE    COURT.  39 

lawful  means  to  remain.  After  I  found  that 
I  could  not  be  permitted  to  stay,  I  went 
away  leaving  behind  everything!  held  dear, 
with  the  exception  of  one  child,  whom  I 
took  with  me,  after  paying  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  for  her.  It  is  also  known 
to  you  and  to  many  other  persons  here  pres- 
ent, that  I  had  engaged  to  purchase  my 
wife  and  children  of  their  master,  Mr.  Smith, 
for  the  sum  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars, 
and  that  I  had  paid  of  this  sum  (including 
my  house  and  lot)  eleven  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars,  leaving  a  balance  to  be  made 
up  of  thirteen  hundred  and  eighty  dollars. 
I  had  previously  to  that  lived  in  Raleigh,  a 
slave,  the  property  of  Mr.  Sherwood  Hay- 
wood, and  had  purchased  my '  freedom  by 
paying  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars. 
But  being  driven  away,  no  longer  permitted 
to  live  in  this  city,  to  raise  the  balance  of 
the  money  due  on  my  family,  my  last  re- 
sort was  to  call  upon  the  friends  of  human- 
ity in  other  places,  to  assist  me. 

I  went  to  the  city  of  Boston,  and  there  I 
related  the  story  of  my  persecutions  here, 
the  same  as  I  have  now  stated  to  you.  The 
people  gave  ear  to  my  statements  ;  and  one 
of  them,  Rev.  Mr.  Neale,  wrote  back,  un- 
known to  me,  to  Mr.  Smith,  inquiring  of 
him  whether  the  statements  made  by  me 
were  correct.  After  Mr.  Neale  received  the 
answer,  he  sent  for  me,  informed  me  of  his 
having  written,  and  read  to  me  the  reply. 


40  NARRATIVE. 

The  letter  fully  satisfied  Mr.  Neale  and  his 
friends.  He  placed  it  in  my  hands,  remark- 
ing that  it  would,  in  a  great  measure,  do 
away  the  necessity  of  using  the  other  docu- 
ments in  my  possession.  I  then  with  that 
letter  in  my  hands  went  out  from  house  to 
house,  from  place  of  business  to  place  of 
business,  and  from  church  to  church,  re- 
lating, where  I  could  gain  an  ear,  the  same 
heart-rending  and  soul-trying  story  which  I 
am  now  repeating  to  you.  In  pursuing  that 
course,  the  people,  first  one  and  then  anoth- 
er contributed,  until  I  had  succeeded  in 
raising  the  amount  alluded  to,  namely,  thir- 
teen hundred  and  eighty  dollars.  I  may. 
have  had  contributions  from  abolition- 
ists ,  but  I  did  not  stop  to  ask  those  who  as- 
sisted me  whether  they  were  anti-slavery  or 
pro-slavery,  for  I  considered  that  the  money, 
coming  from  either,  would  accomplish  the 
object  I  had  in  view.  These  are  the  facts; 
and  now,  sir,  it  remains  for  you  to  say, 
whether  I  have  been  giving  aiolition  lec- 
tures or  not. 

In  the  course  of  my  remarks  I  presented 
the  letter  of  Mr.  Smith  to  Mr.  Neale,  show- 
ing that  I  had  acted  the  open  part  while  in 
Massachusetts  ;  also  I  referred  to  my  having 
written  to  Mr.  Smith  requesting  him  to  ob- 
tain for  me  the  permit  of  the  Governor ;  and 
I  showed  to  the  court,  Mr.  Smith's  letters  in 
reply,  in  order  to  satisfy  them  that  I  had 
reason  to  believe  I  should  be  unmolested  in 
my  return. 


THE    MOB.  41. 

Mr.  Loring  then  whispered  to  some  of 
the  leading  men ;  after  which  he  remarked 
that  he  saw  nothing  in  what  I  had  done, 
according  to  my  statements,  implicating  me 
in  a  manner  worthy  of  notice.  He  called 
upon  any  present  who  might  be  in  posses- 
sion of  information  tending  to  disprove  what 
I  had  said,  or  to  show  any  wrong  on  my 
part,  to  produce  it,  otherwise  I  should  be 
set  at  liberty.  No  person  appeared  against 
me  ; '  so  I  was  discharged. 

I  started  to  leave  the  house ;  but  just  be- 
fore I  got  to  the  door  I  met  Mr.  James 
Litchford,  who  touched  me  on  the  shoulder, 
and  I  followed  him  back.  He  observed  to 
me  that  if  I  went  out  of  that  room  I  should 
in  less  than  five  minutes  be  a  dead  man ;  for 
there  was  a  mob  outside  waiting  to  drink  my 
life.  Mr.  Loring  then  spoke  to  me  again, 
and  said  that  notwithstanding  I  had  been 
found  guilty  of  nothing,  yet  public  opinion 
was  law ;  and  he  advised  me  to  leave  the 
place  the  next  day,  otherwise  he  was  con- 
vinced I  should  have  to  suffer  death.  I  re- 
plied, "  not  to-morrow,  but  to-day."  He 
answered  that  I  could  not  go  that  day,  be- 
cause I  had  not  done  my  business.  I  told 
him  that  I  would  leave  my  business  in  his 
hands  and  in  those  of  other  such  gentlemen 
as  himself,  who  might  settle  it  for  me  and 
send  my  family  to  meet  me  at  Philadelphia. 
This  was  concluded  upon,  and  a  guard  ap- 
pointed to  conduct  me  to  the  depot.  I  took 
5 


42  NARRATIVE. 

my  seat  in  the  cars,  when  the  mob  that  had 
followed  us  surrounded  me,  and  declared 
that  the  cars  should  not  go,  if  I  were  per- 
mitted to  go  in  them.  Mr.  Loring  inquired 
what  they  wanted  of  me  ;  he  told  them  that 
there  had  been  an  examination,  and  nothing 
had  been  found  against  me ;  that  they  were 
at  the  examination  invited  to  speak  if  they 
knew  aught  to  condemn  me,  but  they 
had  remained  silent,  and  that  now  it  was 
but  right  I  should  be  permitted  to  leave  in 
peace.  They  replied  that  they  wanted  a 
more  thorough  investigation,  that  they  wish- 
ed to  search  my  trunks  (I  had  but  one  trunk) 
and  see  if  I  was  not  in  possession  of  aboli- 
tion papers.  It  now  became  evident  that 
I  should  be  unable  to  get  off  in  the  cars ; 
and  my  friends  advised  me  to  go  the  short- 
est way  possible  to  jail,  for  my  safety. 
They  said  they  were  persuaded  that  what 
the  rabble  wanted  was  to  get  me  into  their 
possession,  and  then,  to  murder  me.  The 
mob  looked  dreadfully  enraged,  and  seemed 
to  lap  for  blood.  The  whole  city  was  in  an 
uproar.  But  the  first  men  and  the  more 
wealthy  were  my  friends:  and  they  did 
everything  in  their  power  to  protect  me. 
Mr.  Boylan,  whose  name  has  repeatedly 
occurred  in  this  publication,  was  more  than 
a  father  to  me;  and  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr. 
Loring,  and  many  other  gentlemen,  whose 
names  it  would  give  me  pleasure  to  mention, 
were  exceedingly  kind. 


IN    JAIL.  43 

The  guard  then  conducted  me  through 
the  mob  to  the  prison ;  and  I  felt  joyful  that 
even  a  prison  could  protect  me.  Looking 
out  from  the  prison  window,  I  saw  my 
trunk  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Johnson,  Scott, 
and  others,  who  were  taking  it  to  the  City 
Hall  for  examination.  I  understood  after- 
wards that  they  opened  my  trunk ;  and  as 
the  lid  flew  up,  Lo  !  a  paper  !  a  paper !  I 
Those  about  seized  it,  three  or  four  at  once, 
as  hungry  dogs  would  a  piece  of  meat  after 
forty  days  famine.  But  the  meat  quickly 
turned  to  a  stone;  for  the  paper  it  happened, 
was  one  printed  in  Raleigh,  and  edited  by 
Weston  R.  Gales,  a  nice  man  to  be  sure, 
but  no  abolitionist.  The  only  other  printed 
or  written  things  in  the  trunk  were  some 
business  cards  of  a  firm  in  Raleigh — not  in- 
cendiary. 

Afterwards  I  saw  from  the  window  Mr. 
Scott,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Johnson,  lugging 
my  carpet-bag  in  the  same  direction  my 
trunk  had  gone.  It  was  opened  at  the  City 
Hall,  and  found  actually  to  contain  a  pair 
of  old  shoes,  and  a  pair  of  old  boots  ! — but 
they  did  not  conclude  that  these  were  incen- 
diary. 

Mr.  Smith  now  came  to  the  prison  and 
told  me  that  the  examination  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  nothing  found  against  ,me;  but 
that  it  would  not  be  safe  for  me  to  leave  the 
prison  immediately.  It  was  agreed  that  I 
should  remain  in  prison  until  after  night-fall, 


44  NARRATIVE. 

and  then  steal  secretly  away,  being  let 
out  by  the  keeper,  and  pass  unnoticed  to  the 
house  of  my  old  and  tried  friend  Mr.  Boy- 
Ian.  Accordingly  I  was  discharged  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock.  I  went  by  the  back 
way  leading  to  Mr.  Boylan's ;  but  soon  and 
suddenly  a  large  company  of  men  sprang 
upon  me,  and  instantly  I  found  myself  in 
their  possession.  They  conducted  me  some- 
times high  above  ground  and  sometimes 
dragging  me  along,  but  as  silently  as  possi- 
ble, in  the  direction  of  the  gallows,  which  is 
always  kept  standing  upon  the  Common,  or 
as  it  is  called  "the  pines,"  or  '"  piny  old 
field."  I  now  expected  to  pass  speedily  into 
the  world  of  spirits;  I  thought  of  that  un- 
seen region  to  which  I  seemed  to  be  hasten- 
ing ;  and  then  my  mind  would  return  to  my 
wife  and  children,  and  the  labors  I  had  made 
to  redeem  them  from  bondage.  Although  I 
had  the  money  to  pay  for  them  according  to 
a  bargain  already  made,  it  seemed  to  me 
some  white  man  would  get  it,  and  they 
would  die  in  slavery,  without  benefit  from 
my  exertions  and  the  contributions  of  my 
friends.  Then  the  thought  of  my  own 
death,  to  occur  in  a  few  brief  moments, 
would  rush  over  me,  and  I  seemed  to  bid 
adieu  in  spirit  to  all  earthly  things,  and  to 
hold  communion  already  with  eternity.  But 
at  length  I  observed  those  who  were  carry- 
ing me  away,  changed  their  course  a  little 
from  the  direct  line  to  the  gallows,  and  hope, 


IN    THE    HANDS    OF    THE    MOB.  45 

a  faint  beaming,  sprung  up  within  me ;  but 
then  as  they  were  taking  me  to  the  woods, 
I  thought  they  intended  to  murder  me  there, 
in  a  place  where  they  would  be  less  likely 
to  ye  interrupted  than  in  so  public  a  spot  as 
where  the  gallows  stood.  They  conducted 
me  to  ^a  rising  ground  among  the  trees,  and 
set  me  down.  "Now,"  said  they,  u  tell  us 
the  truth  about  those  abolition  lectures  you 
have  been  giving  at  the  North."  I  replied 
that  I  had  related  the  circumstances  before 
the  court  in  the  morning ;  and  could  only 
repeat  what  I  had  then  said.  "But  that 
was  not  the  truth— tell  us  the  truth."  I 
again  said  that  any  different  story  would  be 
false,  and  as  I  supposed  I  was  in  a  few  min- 
utes to  die,  I  would  not,  whatever  they 
might  think  I  would  say  under  other  cir- 
cumstances, pass  into  the  other  world  with 
a  lie  upon  my  lips.  Said  one,  "  you  were 
always,  Lunsford,  when  you  were  here,  a 
clever  fellow,  and  I  did  not  think  you  would 
be  engaged  in  such  business  as  giving  aboli- 
tion lectures."  To  this  and  similar  remarks, 
I  replied  that  the  people  of  Raleigh  had  al- 
ways said  the  abolitionists  did  not  believe  in 
buying  slaves,  but  contended  that  their  mas- 
ters ought  to  free  them  without  pay.  I  had 
been  laboring  to  buy  my  family  ;  and  how 
then  could  they  ^suppose  me  to  be  in  league 
with  the  abolitionists  ? 

After  other  conversation  of  this  kind,  and  af- 
ter they  seemed  to  have  become  tired  of  ques- 


46  NARRATIVE. 

tioning  me,  they  held  a  consultation  in  a  low- 
whisper  among  themselves.  Then  a  bucket 
was  brought  and  set  down  by  my  side  ;  but 
what  it  contained  or  for  what  it  was  intend- 
ed, I  could  not  divine.  But  soon,  one  of  the 
number  came  forward  with  a  pillow,  and 
then  hope  sprung  up,  a  flood  of  light  and 
joy  within  me.  The  heavy  weight  on  my 
heart  rolled  off;  death  had  passed  by  and  I 
unharmed.  They  commenced  stripping  me 
till  every  rag  of  clothes  was  removed  ;  and 
then  the  bucket  was  set  near,  and  I  discov- 
ered it  to  contain  tar.  One  man,  I  will  do 
him  the  honor  to  record  his  name,  Mr. 
WILLIAM  ANDRES,  a  journeyman  print- 
er, when  he  is  any  thing,  except  a  tar-and- 
featherer,  put  his  hands  the  first  into  the 
bucket,  and  was  about  passing  them  to  my 
face.  "  Don't  put  any  in  his  face  or  eyes," 
said  one.*  So  he  desisted;  but  he,  with 
three  other  "  gentlemen,"  whose  names  I 
should  be  happy  to  record  if  I  could  recall 
them,  gave  me  as  nice  a  coat  of  tar  all  over, 
face  only  excepted,  as  any  one  would  wish 
to  see.  Then  they  took  the  pillow  and 
ripped  it  open  at  one  end,  and  with  the  open 
end  commenced  the  operation  at  the  head 
and  so  worked  downwards,  of  putting  a  coat 

*  I  think  this  was  Mr.  Burns,  a  blacksmith  in  the  place, 
but  I  am  not  certain.  At  any  rate,  this  man  was  my  friend 
(if  so  he  may  be  called)  on  this  occasion  ;  and  it  was  for- 
tunate for  me  that  the  company  generally  seemed  to  look 
up  to  him  for  wisdom. 


TAR    AND    FEATHERS.  47 

of  its  contents  over  that  of  the  contents  of 
the  bucket.  A  fine  escape  from  the  hang- 
ing thrs  will  be,  thought  I,  provided  they  do 
not  with  a  match  set  fire  to  the  feathers.  I 
had  some  fear  they  would.  But  when  the 
work  was  completed  they  gave  me  my 
clothes,  and  one  of  them  handed  me  my 
watch  which  he  had  carefully  kept  in  his 
hands ;  they  all  expressed  great  interest  in 
my  welfare,  advised  me  how  to  proceed  with 
my  business  the  next  day,  told  me  to  stay 
in  the  place  as  long  as  I  wished,  and  with 
other  such  words  of  consolation  they  bid  me 
good  night. 

After  I  had  returned  to  my  family,  to  their 
inexpressible  joy,  as  they  had  become  great- 
ly alarmed  for  my  safety,  some  of  the  per- 
sons who  had  participated  in  this  outrage, 
came  in  (probably  influenced  by  a  curiosity 
to  see  how  the  tar  and  feathers  would  be  got 
off)  and  expressed  great  sympathy  for  me. 
They^said  they  regretted  that  the  affair  had 
happened — that  they  had  no  objections  to  my 
living  in  Raleigh — I  might  feel  perfectly  safe 
to  go  out  and  transact  my  business  prepara- 
tory to  leaving — I  should  not  be  molested. 

Meanwhile,  my  friends  understanding  that 
I  had  been  discharged  from  prison,  and  per- 
ceiving I  did  not  come  to  them,  had  com- 
menced a  regular  search  for  me,  on  foot  and 
on  horseback,  every  where;  and  Mr.  Smith 
called  upon  the  Governor  to  obtain  his 
official  interference ;  and  after  my  return,  a 


48  NARRATIVE. 

guard  came  to  protect  me ;  but  I  chose  not 
to  risk  myself  at  my  own  house,  and  so 
went  to  Mr.  Smith's,  where  this  guard  kept 
me  safely  until  morning.  They  seemed 
friendly  indeed,  and  were  regaled  with  a 
supper  during  the  night  by  Mr.  Smith.  My 
friend,  Mr.  Battle,  (late  Private  Secretary  to 
the  Governor,)  was  with  them  ;  and  he  made 
a  speech  to  them  setting  forth  the  good  quali- 
ties I  had  exhibited  in  my  past  life,  particu- 
larly in  my  connection  with  the  Governor's 
office. 

In  the  morning  Mr.  Boylan,  true  as  ever, 
and  unflinching  in  his  friendship,  assisted 
me  in  arranging  my  business,*  so  that  I 
should  start  with  my  family  that  day  for  the 
north.  He  furnished  us  with  provisions 
more  than  sufficient  to  sustain  the  family  to 
Philadelphia,  where  we  intended  to  make  a 
halt  j  and  sent  his  own  baggage  wagon  to 
convey  our  baggage  to  the  depot,  offering 
also  to  send  his  carriage  for  my  family.  But 
my  friend,  Mr.  Malone,  had  been  before  him 
in  this  kind  offer,  which  I  had  agreed  to 
accept. 

Brief  and  sorrowful  was  the  parting  from 

*  Of  course  I  was  obliged  to  sacrifice  much  on  my  prop- 
erty, leaving  in  this  harried  manner.  And  while  I  was  in 
the  North,  a  kind  friend  had  removed  from  the  wood-lot, 
wood  that  I  had  cut  and  corded,  for  which  I  expected  to 
receive  over  one  hundred  dollars  ;  thus  saving  me  the 
trouble  of  making  sale  of  it,  or  of  being  burdened  with 
the  money  it  would  bring.  I  suppose  I  have  no  redress. 
I  might  add  other  things  as  bad. 


my  mother's  freedom,  49 

my  kind  friends;  but  the  worst  was  the 
thought  of  leaving  my  mother.  The  cars 
were  to  start  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
I  called  upon  my  old  mistress,  Mrs.  Hay- 
wood, who  was  affected  to  weeping  by  the 
considerations  that  naturally  came  to  her 
mind.  She  had  been  kind  to  me ;  the  day 
before  she  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Hogg, 
now  present,  had  jointly  transmitted  a  com- 
munication to  the  court  representing  that  in 
consequence  of  my  good  conduct  .from  my 
youth,  I  could  not  be  supposed  to  be  guilty 
of  any  offence.  And  now,  M  with  tears  that 
ceased  not  flowing,"  they  gave  me  their 
parting  blessing.  My  mother  was  still  Mrs. 
Haywood's  slave,  and  I  her  only  child.  Our 
old  mistress  could  not  witness  the  sorrow 
that  would  attend  the  parting  with  my 
mother.  She  told  her  to  go  with  me ;  and  . 
said  that  if  I  ever  became  able  to  pay  two 
hundred  dollars  for  her,  I  might ;  otherwise 
it  should  be  her  loss.  She  gave  her  the  fol- 
lowing paper,  which  is  in  the  ordinary  form 
of  a  pass  :    . 

Raleigh,  N.  C.  April  26, 1842. 
Know  all  persons  by  these  presents,  that  the  bearer  of  this, 
Clarissa,  a  slave,  belonging  to  me,  hath  my  permission  to  visit 
the  city  of  New  York  with  her  relations,  who  are  in  company 
with  her  ;  and  it  is  my  desire  that  she  may  be  protected  and 
permitted  to  pass  without  molestation  or  hindrance,  on  good 
behavior.     Witness  my  hand  this  26th  April,  1812. 

ELEANOR  HAYWOOD. 
Witness — J.  A.  Campbell. 

On  leaving  Mrs.  Haywood's,  I  called  upon 
Mrs.  Badger,  another  daughter,  and  wife  of 
6 


50  NARRATIVE. 

Judge  Badger,  previously  mentioned.  She 
seemed  equally  affected ;  she  wept  as  she 
gave  me  her  parting  counsel.  She  and  Mrs. 
Hogg  and  I  had  been  children  together,  play- 
ing in  the  same  yard,  while  yet  none  of  us 
had  learned  that  they  were  of  a  superior  and 
I  of  a  subject  race.  And  in  those  infant  years 
there  were  pencillings  made  upon  the  heart, 
which  time  and  opposite  fortunes  could  not 
all  efface. — May  these  friends  never  be  slaves 
as  I  have  been ;  nor  their  bosom  compan- 
ions and  their  little  ones  be  slaves  like  mine. 

When  the  cars  were  about  to  start,  the 
whole  city  seemed  to  be  gathered  at  the  de- 
pot ;  and  among  the  rest  the  mobocratic  por- 
tion, who  appeared  to  be  determined  still 
that  I  should  not  go  peaceably  away.  Ap- 
prehending this,  it  had  been  arranged  with 
my  friends  and  the  conductor,  that  my  fam- 
ily should  be  put  in  the  cars  and  that  I 
should  go  a  distance  from  the  city  on  foot, 
and  be  taken  up  as  they  passed.  The  mob, 
therefore,  supposing  that  I  was  left  behind, 
allowed  the  cars  to  start. 

Mr.  Whiting,  known  as  the  agent  of  the 
rail  road  company,  was  going  as  far  as  Pe- 
tersburg, Va. ;  and  he  kindly  assisted  in  pur- 
chasing our  tickets,  and  enabling  us  to  pass 
on  unmolested.  After  he  left,  Capt.  Guyan, 
of  Raleigh,  performed  the  same  kind  office 
as  far  as  Alexandria,  D.  C,  and  then  he 
placed  us  in  the  care  of  a  citizen  of  Phila- 
delphia,  whose  name  I  regret   to  have  for- 


RETURN    TO    THE    NORTH.  51 

gotten,  who  protected  us  quite  out  of  the 
land  of  slavery.  But  for  this  we  should 
have  been  liable  to  be  detained  at  several 
places  on  our  way,  much  to  our  embarrass- 
ment, at  least,  if  nothing  had  occurred  of  a 
more  serious  nature. 

One  accident  only  had  happened :  we  lost 
at  Washington  a  trunk  containing  most  of 
our  valuable  clothing.  This  we  have  not 
recovered ;  but  our  lives  have  been  spared 
to  bless  the  day  that  conferred  freedom  upon 
us.  I  felt  when  my  feet  struck  the  pave- 
ments in  Philadelphia,  as  though  I  had 
passed  into  another  world.  I  could  draw  in 
a  full  long  breath,  with  no  one  to  say  to  the 
ribs,  "  why  do  ye  so  1 " 

On  reaching  Philadelphia  we  found  that 
our  money  had  all  been  expended,  but  kind 
friends  furnished  us  with  the  means  of  pro- 
ceeding as  far  as  New- York  ;  and  thence  we 
were  with  equal  kindness  aided  on  to  Boston. 

In  Boston  and  in  the  vicinity,  are  persons 
almost  without  number,  who  have  done  me 
favors  more  than  I  can  express.  The 
thought  that  I  was  now  in  my  loved,  though 
recently  acquired  home — that  my  family 
were  with  me  where  the  stern,  cruel,  hated 
hand  of  slavery  could  never  reach  us  more — 
the  greetings  of  friends — the  interchange  of 
feeling  and  sympathy — the  kindness  be- 
stowed upon  us,  more  grateful  than  rain  to 
the  thirsty  earth — the  reflections  of  the  past 
that  would  rush  into  my  mind, — these  and 


52  NARRATIVE. 

more  almost  overwhelmed  me  with  emotion, 
and  I  had  deep  and  strange  communion 
with  my  own  soul.  Next  to  God  from 
whom  every  good  gift  proceeds,  I  feel  under 
the  greatest  obligations  to^  my  kind  friends 
in  Massachusetts.-  To  be  rocked  in .  their 
cradle  of  Liberty, — oh,  how  unlike  being 
stretched  on  the  pillory  of  slavery  !  May 
that  cradle  rock  forever  ;  may  many  a  poor 
care-worn  child  of  sorrow,  many  a  spirit- 
bruised  (worse  than  lash-mangled)  victim  of 
oppression,  there  sweetly  sleep  to  the  lullaby 
of  Freedom,  sung  by  Massachusetts'  sons 
and  daughters. 

A  number  of  meetings  have  been  held 
at  which  friends  have  contributed  to  our 
temporal  wants,  and  individuals  have  sent 
us  various  articles  of  provision  and  furniture 
and  apparel,  so  that  our  souls  have  been  truly 
made  glad.  There  are  now  ten  of  us  in  the 
family,  my  wife,  my  mother,  and  myself, 
with  seven  children,  and  we  expect  soon  to 
be  joined  by  my  father,  who  several  years 
ago  received  his  freedom  by  legacy.  The 
wine  fresh  from  the  clustering  grapes  never 
filled  so  sweet  a  cup  as  mine.  May  I  and 
my  family  be  permitted  to  drink  it,  remem- 
bering whence  it  came ! 


BILLS    OF    SALE.  53 

I  suppose  such  of  my  readers  as  are  not 
accustomed  to  trade  in  human  beings,  may 
be  curious  to  see  the  Bills  of  Sale,  by  which 
I  have  obtained  the  right  to  my  wife  and 
children.  They  are  both  in  the  hand 
writing  of  Mr.  Smith.  The  first — that  for 
Laura  is  as  follows  : 

State  of  North  Carolina,  Wake  County. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to  me  in  hand 
paid,  I  have  this  day  bargained  and  sold  5  and  do  hereby  bar- 
gain, sell  and  deliver  unto  Lunsford  Lane,  a  free  man  of  color, 
a  certain  negro  girl  by  the  name  of  Laura,  aged  about  seven 
years,  and  hereby  warrant  and  defend  the  right  and  title  of  the 
said  girl  to  the  said  Lunsford  and  his  heirs  forever,  free  from 
the  claims  of  all  persons  whatsoever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  at 
Raleigh,  this  17th  May,  1841. 

B.  B.  SMITH,  [seal.] 

Witness — Robt.  W.  Haywood. 

Below  is  the  Bill  of  Sale  for  my  wife  and 
other  six  children,  to  which  the  papers  that 
follow  are  attached. 

State  of  North  Carolina,  Wake  County. 
Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  to  me 
in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  of  which  is  hereby  acknowledged, 
I  have  this  day  bargained,  sold  and  delivered  unto  Lunsford 
Lane,  a  free  man  of  color,  one  dark  mulatto  woman  named 
Patsy,  one  boy  named  Edward,  one  boy  also  named  William, 
one  boy  also  named  Lunsford,  one  girl  named  Maria,  one  boy 
also  named  Ellick,  and  one  girl  named  Lucy,  to  have  and  to 

7 


54  BILLS   6$    SALE. 

hold  the  said  negroes  free  from  the  claims  of  all  persons  what- 
soever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  hand  and 
seal  this  25th  day  of  April,  1842. 

B.  B.  SMITH,  [seal.] 

Witness — Th.  L.  West. 

State  of  North  Carolina,  Wake  County. 
Office  of  Court  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions,  April  26,  1842. 
The  execution  of  the  within  bill  of  sale   was  this  day  duly 
acknowledged  before  me  by  B.  B.  Smith,  the  executor  of  the 
same. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed  the  seal  of 
.-  ,  said  Court,  and  subscribed  my  name  at  office  in 
*■  '    'J     Raleigh,  the  date  above. 

JAS.  T.  MARRIOTT,  Clerk. 

State  of  North  Carolina,  Wake  County. 
I,  Wm.  Boylan,  presiding  magistrate  of  the  Court  of  Pleas 
and  Quarter  Sessions  for  the  county  aforesaid,  certify  that 
James  T.  Marriott,  who  has  written  and  signed  the  above  cer- 
tificate, is  Clerk  of  the  Court  aforesaid, — that  the  same  is  in  due 
form,  and  full  faith  and  credit  are  due  to  such  his  official  acts. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  private  seal  (having  no  seal  of 
office)  this  26th  day  of  April,  1842. 

WM.  BOYLAN,  P.  M.  [seal.] 

The  State  of  North  Carolina.  ■ 
To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting : 

Be  it  known,  that  William  Boylan,  whose  signature  appears 
in  his  own  proper  hand  writing  to  the  annexed  certificate,  was 
at  the  time  of  signing  the  same  and  now  is  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  the  Presiding  Magistrate  for  the  county  of  Wake, 
in  the  State  aforesaid,  and  as  such  he  is  duly  qualified  and  em- 
powered to  give  said  certificate,  which  is  here  done  in  the 
usual  and  proper  manner  ;  and  full  faith  and  credit  are  due  to 
the  same,  and  ought  to  be  given  to  all  the  official  acts  of  the 
said  William  Boylan  as  Presiding  Magistrate  aforesaid. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  J.  M.  Morehead,  Governor,  Captain 
General  and  Commander  in  Chief,  have  caused 
the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  to  be  hereunto  affixed, 
and  signed  the  same  at  the  city  of  Raleigh,  on  the 
[l.  s.]  26th  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-two,  and  in  the 
sixty-sixth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States.  J.  M.  MOREHEAD. 

By  the  Governor. 
P.  Reynolds,  Private  Secretary. 


THE    SLAVE   MOTHER'S    ADDRESS. 

But  thou  art  born  a  slave,  my  child; 

Those  little  hands  must  toil, 
That  brow  must  sweat,  that  bosom  ache 

Upon  another's  soil ; 
And  if  perchance  some  tender  joy 

Should  bloom  upon  thy  heart, 
Another's  hand  may  enter  there, 

And  tear  it  soon  apart. 

Thou  art  a  little  joy  to  me, 

But  soon  thou  may'st  be  sold, 
Oh  I  lovelier  to  thy  mother  far 

Than  any  weight  of  gold  ; 
Or  I  may  see  thee  scourg'd  and  driv'n 

Hard  on  the  cotton-field, 
To  fill  a  cruel  master's  store, 

With  what  thy  blood  may  yield. 

Should  some  fair  maiden  win  thy  heart, 

And  thou  should'st  call  her  thine ; 
Should  jittle  ones  around  thee  stand, 

Or  round  thy  bosom  twine, 
Thou  wilt  not  know  how  soon  away 

These  loves  may  all  be  riv'n, 
Nor  what  a  darkened  troop  of  woe 

Through  thy  lone  breast  be  driv'n. 

Thy  master  may  be  kind,  and  give 

Thy  every  wish  to  thee, 
Only  deny  that  greatest  wish, 

That  longing  to  be  free  : 
Still  it  will  seem  a  comfort  smaD 

That  thou  hast  sweeter  bread, 
A  better  hut  than  other  slaves, 

Or  pillow  for  thy  head. 


OX©  QX©  QAQ  ©*§  ©A©  ©K9  ©X©  ©A©  OX©  QX©  QX©  OA©  ®| 
THE    SLAVE   MOTHER'S    ADDRESS. 

What  joys  soe'er  may  gather  round, 

What  other  comforts  flow, — 
That,  like  a  mountain  in  the  sea, 

O'ertops  each  wave  below, 
That  ever-upward,  firm  desire 

To  break  the  chains,  and  be 
Free  as  the  ocean  is,  or  like 

The  ocean-winds,  be  free. 

Oh,  child !  thou  art  a  little  slave ; 

And  all  of  thee  that  grows, 
Will  be  another's  weight  of  flesh, — 

But  thine  the  weight  of  woes. 
Thou  art  a  little  slave,  my  child, 

And  much  I  grieve  and  mourn 
That  to  so  dark  a  destiny 

A  lovely  babe  I've  borne. 

And  gladly  would  1  lay  thee  down 

To  sleep  beneath  the  sod, 
And  give  thy  gentle  spirit  back, 

Unmarr'd  with  grief,  to  God : 
The  tears  I  shed  upon  that  turf 

Should  whisper  peace  to  me, 
And  tell  me  in  the  spirit  land 

My  lovely  babe  was  free. 

I  then  should  know  thy  peace  was  sure, 

And  only  long  to  go  / 

The  road  which  thou  had'st  gone,  and  wipe 

Away  these  tears  that  flow. 
Death  to  the  slave  has  double  power ; 

It  breaks  the  earthly  clod, 
And  breaks  the  tyrant's  sway,  that  he 

May  worship  only  God. 


'©JK©©*©* 


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